Bay prison faces torture law test
By Dorette De Swart - 03 April 2014
A PORT Elizabeth prisoners’ rights activist has laid South Africa’s first criminal complaints of torture in terms of new legislation against senior Correctional Services Department officials.
This follows alleged mass assaults on inmates at St Albans Prison last month.
Attorney Egon Oswald has laid the criminal charges in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act promulgated in July last year.
The law creates a new crime of torture not previously recognised in South Africa.
According to the new law, a person found guilty of torture must be imprisoned and can be sentenced to life in jail depending on the severity. - Estelle Ellis
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